Adjustable height miniature basketball backboard assembly

ABSTRACT

An adjustable height miniature basketball backboard assembly is described having an a-symmetric backboard with a plurality of threaded apertures, a basket mounted thereto via single face-plate. A first and second biased support structures are used in combination with a series of coupling brackets to secure the backboard assembly on the supports at selective heights within a door frame or similar area. A plurality of thumb fasteners are used to quickly secure and deploy the assembly as a light-weight and transparent assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to basketball goalassemblies. More specifically, the invention is a miniature basketballgoal assembly adapted to be releasably attached to a window and/or doorframe at selective heights.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Numerous basketball goal assemblies have been devised as portablefeatures for attachment to doors, stand alone supports and the like.Some of the conventional features as herein described below utilizeaccessories such as special nets and multiple goals for addedrecreational appeal. As early as 1945, U.S. Patents were issued tofacilitate the deployment of portable basketball goals. Some of theseparticular features are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. issued to Gibson(2,379,572), Cook (2,512,417), Killick (2,707,104), Chalcroft(3,017,183), Mason (3,669,450), Pangburn (4,468,027), Offutt(4,715,600), Thornell (4,793,611), Goldfarb (4,955,605) and Jarriel etal. (4,974,841).

[0005] It was not until the early 1980's that adjustable features of adeployable miniature goal was realized as described in the U.S. Pat. No.issued to Killen (4,183,522). However, this particular goal assembly hadmany shortcomings with the use of sharp edged removable brackets whichis quite dangerous in and around the presence of children. An adjustableminiature basketball backboard assembly which is light-weight and whichcan be easily deployed as herein described is lacking.

[0006] Other patents which sought to provide similar features were thoserespectively issued and granted to Gibson (Des. U.S. Pat. No. 139,311),Graham (Des. U.S. Pat. No. 431,272), Dickinson (GB 520,656) and Francis(FR 2,583,649), but such developments proved to be conventional incomparison with the previously recited patents. Thus, these conventionalfeatures are considered to be of generally relevance to the adjustableminiature basketball goal assembly as herein described.

[0007] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularlyor in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.Thus a adjustable height miniature basketball backboard assembly solvingthe aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The adjustable height miniature basketball backboard assemblyaccording to the invention includes a backboard having a plurality ofthreaded apertures, a basket secured thereto and a biased first andsecond support structure for supporting a first portion of the backboardbetween selective areas of a door frame at selective heights. Aplurality of light-weight coupling brackets are used to secure therespective supports to the backboard before full deployment within awindow or door frame accordingly. The materials of the assembly and themechanisms used are designed for minimum effort and simple assembly foruse.

[0009] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to providean adjustable height miniature basketball backboard assembly for use bytoddlers and older children.

[0010] It is another object of the invention to provide an adjustableheight miniature basketball backboard assembly which simple to deploy.

[0011] It is a further object of the invention to provide an adjustableheight miniature basketball backboard assembly which light-weight.

[0012] Still another object of the invention is to provide an adjustableheight miniature basketball backboard assembly which transparent forease of supervision by a parent or guardian.

[0013] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive,dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0014] These and other objects of the present invention will becomereadily apparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of an adjustableheight miniature basketball backboard assembly according to the presentinvention.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the adjustable heightminiature basketball backboard assembly according to the invention.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the adjustable heightminiature basketball backboard assembly according to the invention,illustrating a partial cut-away perspective of a single extension rod.

[0018]FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view of the adjustable heightminiature basketball backboard assembly according to the invention,illustrating alignment with a door frame.

[0019]FIG. 4B is a top perspective view of a basketball rim of theadjustable height miniature basketball backboard assembly.

[0020]FIG. 4C is a perspective view of a face-plate for the rim of FIG.4B.

[0021]FIG. 4D is a partial perspective view of the basketball rimaccording to the invention.

[0022] Similar reference characters denote corresponding featuresconsistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] The present invention is directed to an adjustable heightminiature basketball backboard assembly for kids or children K. Thepreferred embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIGS. 1-4D, and isgenerally referenced by numeral 5.

[0024] As best seen in FIG. 1, the adjustable height miniaturebasketball assembly 5 is shown in environmental perspective, wherein achild K is seen honing fundamental basketball skills by shooting aminiature basketball 10 towards the rim 12 of the basket 14. The rim 12includes a L-shaped face-plate 16 disposed on a peripheral portion ofthe rim 12 for attachment with a backboard 18. The face-plate isconfigured with a plurality of predimensioned threaded apertures 17.

[0025] As shown therein, the adjustable height miniature basketballassembly 5 comprises the backboard 18 having a plurality of threadedapertures 19, the basket 10 (including rim 12 and net 13), a firstsupport structure or means 20 for supporting a first portion of thebackboard 18 between a first and second portion 22 a and 22 b,respectively of a frame member 22, a second support structure or means24 for supporting a second portion of the backboard 18 between a thirdand fourth portion 22 c and 22 d, respectively of the frame member 22.The first and second support structures 20, 24 are preferablytelescoping members which are biased to extend and retract along thelength of each respective structure 20, 24. The mechanism by which eachsupport structure extend and retract can include the use of springloaded features 26 and/or threaded couplings which provide the sameeffect. Each mechanical spring 26 is selected having a predeterminedstiffness k (Newtons/meter) for producing or exerting a support forcevia rubber stoppers 27 attached to the respective ends (20 a, 20 b and24 a and 24 b) of each support structure 20 and 24. The use of rubberstoppers are selected to have a maximum normal force at selected framesurface portions 22 a, 22 b, 22 c and 22 d of frame 22 for supportingthe backboard 18 and attached basket 14 at selective heights between thedoor frame 22 due to the coefficient friction of the stoppers 27. Thebackboard 18, as shown therein is preferably made of a transparentmaterial such as acrylic. Other polymeric materials can be used, so longas the material is light-weight in comparison to acrylic.

[0026] Accordingly, each support structure 20, 24 is secured to thebackboard 18 by a plurality of coupling brackets or means 30 havingthreaded apertures 31 for coupling the respective first and secondsupport structures 20, 24 to the backboard 18 via the plurality ofco-linearly aligned threaded apertures 19 by a plurality of threadedthumb fasteners 21. The threaded features of the apertures 19 andassociative thumb fasteners 21 of the assembly 5 are selected tocorrespond not only in dimension, but also to reduce overall materialweight of the assembly. According the fasteners 21 are preferably madeof a light-weight polymeric or metal material. Similar fasteners 21 areused to fasten the face-plate 16 via apertures 17 to the backboard viasimilarly disposed apertures 19.

[0027] While the depiction of the support structures 20, 24 in FIG. 1are shown as substantially cylindrical structures 20, 24, anygeometrical configuration of the supports 20, 24 (including associativebracket features) can be used, so long as such configurations are usedconsistent with the scope and intent of the invention as hereindescribed.

[0028] As diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 2, the backboard assembly5 is shown in a front perspective as a fully deployed assembly 5. Thestoppers 27 disposed on respective ends (20 a, 20 b and 24 a and 24 b)of each support 20, 24 as either fixed or removable elemental featuresin order to maximize the normal force due at the interface of the eachstopper 27 and respective frame portion to friction between a surfaceportion of the respective stoppers 27 and respective abutting surfaceportions 22 a, 22 b, 22 c and 22 d of the frame 22.

[0029] As diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 3, the backboard assembly5 is shown in a rear perspective, illustrating a cut-away perspective ofthe first support structure 20 to reveal the operative use of a loadedspring 26 for generating an extension force between the frame 22 forsupporting a first portion of the backboard 18. A more detailperspective of the assembly 5 is shown in an exploded perspective inFIG. 4A to illustrate the alignment of the assembly 5 with the doorframe 22. As diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 4B-4D, the basket isshown in respective elemental features comprising a rim 12 with aplurality of T-shaped protruding attachment ends 15 disposed within ainterior rim portion 12 a to anchor or support the basketball net 13therefrom. The face-plate 16 is also respectively shown in FIG. 4C toillustrate co-linearly aligned apertures 17. Instead of using a solidrim structure 12, FIG. 4D shows a substantially curvilinear rim portionto provide certain amount of rigidity at a reduced weight. frontperspective as a fully deployed assembly 5.

[0030] Other unobvious features of the invention reside in theparticular use of light-weight materials which significantly reduces theneed for a certain level of physical prowess to deploy. As recitedabove, it is preferable to manufacture the assembly out of a polymericmaterial such as acrylic or similar material. The transparent featuresof the material provides a means by which a parent or guardian canobserve a child K from a remote location without the fears produced bynon-transparent barriers or obstructions.

[0031] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limitedto the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and allembodiments within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:
 1. An adjustable height miniature basketball backboard assemblycomprising: a backboard having a plurality of threaded apertures, abasket, said basket comprises a face-plate having a plurality ofapertures for attachment with said backboard; a first support means forsupporting a first portion of the backboard between a first and secondportion of a frame member; a second support means for supporting asecond portion of the backboard between a third and fourth portion ofthe frame member; a plurality of coupling means for coupling saidrespective first and second support means to said backboard via saidplurality of threaded apertures; and a plurality of fastening means forfastening the face-plate to the backboard via said plurality ofapertures.
 2. The backboard assembly according to claim 1, wherein: saidfirst and second support means further comprise respective first andsecond stoppers adapted thereto.
 3. The backboard assembly according toclaim 2, wherein: said respective first and second stoppers are made ofa material which maximizes friction between a surface portion of therespective stoppers and an abutting surface portion of the respectiveframe members.
 4. The backboard assembly according to claim 3, wherein:said respective first and second stoppers are made of rubber material.5. The backboard assembly according to claim 4, wherein: said first andsecond support means are extendable and retractable support members. 6.The backboard assembly according to claim 5, wherein: said first andsecond extendable and retractable support members are spring loaded,said springs having a predetermined stiffness for effecting a supportforce for the back board assembly.
 7. The backboard assembly accordingto claim 1, wherein: said first and second support means are extendableand retractable support members.
 8. The backboard assembly according toclaim 5, wherein: said first and second extendable and retractablesupport members are spring loaded, said springs having a predeterminedstiffness for effecting a support force for the back board assembly. 9.The backboard assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said first andsecond support means are telescoping support members.
 10. The backboardassembly according to claim 1, wherein: said backboard is made of alight-weight and transparent material.
 11. The backboard assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein: said material is acrylic.
 12. Thebackboard assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said plurality ofcoupling means comprise at least one bracket and at least one mechanicalfastener, said at least one bracket having a first and second aperturefor insertably receiving said at least one mechanical fastener.
 13. Thebackboard assembly according to claim 12, wherein: said plurality ofcoupling means comprise at least one bracket and at least one mechanicalfastener, said at least one bracket having a first and second aperturefor insertably receiving said at least one mechanical fastener.
 14. Thebackboard assembly according to claim 12, wherein: said at least onemechanical fastener is a threaded thumb fastener of predetermineddimensions corresponding to said plurality of threaded apertures of saidbackboard.
 15. The backboard assembly according to claim 1, wherein:said a plurality of fastening means are a plurality of threaded thumbfasteners.
 16. The backboard assembly according to claim 1, wherein:said basket includes a rim portion having a plurality of T-shapedprotruding attachment ends disposed within a interior rim portion ofsaid rim for attaching a basket ball net.
 17. The backboard assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein: said basket being made of a light-weightplastic material.
 18. An adjustable height miniature basketballbackboard assembly comprising, in combination with a miniaturebasketball: a backboard having a plurality of threaded apertures, abasket, said basket comprises a face-plate having a plurality ofapertures for attachment with said backboard; a first support means forsupporting a first portion of the backboard between a first and secondportion of a frame member; a second support means for supporting asecond portion of the backboard between a third and fourth portion ofthe frame member; a plurality of coupling means for coupling saidrespective first and second support means to said backboard via saidplurality of threaded apertures; and a plurality of fastening means forfastening the face-plate to the backboard via said plurality ofapertures.
 19. The backboard assembly according to claim 18, wherein:said first and second support means further comprise respective firstand second stoppers adapted thereto.
 20. The backboard assemblyaccording to claim 19, wherein: said respective first and secondstoppers are made of a material which maximizes friction between asurface portion of the respective stoppers and an abutting surfaceportion of the respective frame members.